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Migration of adult children and quality of life of older parents left‐behind in N epal
Author(s) -
Thapa Deependra K,
Visentin Denis C,
Kornhaber Rachel,
Cleary Michelle
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.14047
Subject(s) - quality of life (healthcare) , medicine , gerontology , left behind , demography , mental health , psychiatry , nursing , sociology
Aim Studies regarding the impact of adult children's migration on older parents left‐behind have focused on physical and mental health. This study assessed the relationship between migration of adult children and quality of life (QOL) of older parents left‐behind in Nepal. Methods A cross‐sectional community‐based survey was carried out (May–July 2019) among 791 randomly selected older adults aged ≥60 years. QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life‐abbreviated scale, and migration status was assessed into three categories: no migration, internal migration only and any international migration. A range of sociodemographic characteristics were measured for adjustment. Associations between migration of children and each domain of the QOL were examined by multilevel mixed regression. Results Scores for QOL were; 58.8 ± 19.8 for physical, 63.7 ± 18.0 for psychological, 60.7 ± 16.2 for social, and 61.8 ± 15.0 for environmental domains. This study identified positive and null associations between the migration of children and QOL for parents, with higher scores for physical ( b = 5.16, P = 0.017) and environmental ( b = 3.19, P = 0.046) domains among left‐behind parents whose children migrated internally compared with parents whose children did not migrate. Conclusions The findings differ from previous research showing poorer QOL among left‐behind older parents. Migration plays a significant role in shaping physical and environmental QOL among left‐behind parents living in rural areas with important implications for migrants, their families, researchers and social scientists. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1061–1066. .